Delhi to set up plasma bank, launch helpline

nNEW DELHI: Delhi will set up a plasma bank to pool in blood rich in virus-fighting antibodies, chief minister Arvind Kejriwal said on Monday, in a plan to help critically ill patients of the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) have better access to one of the most effective treatment options yet.

Therapy through transfusion of plasma – a component of the blood – has been on in the national capital since April 22, weeks after global studies showed that the technique drastically improved the chances of recovery among people with severe Covid-19 illness.

“There is high demand for plasma therapy among people. Around two months ago, we were one of the first states to start plasma therapy trials... results are good. It has been observed that plasma therapy helps stabilise respiratory rate of moderate to severe patients and it can save lives,” said Kejriwal at a press briefing over video on Monday.

Tracing its roots to the early 20th century, plasma therapy works on a simple premise: blood from a patient who has beaten Covid-19 is transfused into someone still struggling with the infection. This effectively amounts to rushing a reinforcement of virus antibodies.

WHERE WILL PLASMA BANK BE SET UP?

The plasma bank will operate largely like a blood bank and will be set up at the Institute of Liver and Biliary Sciences (ILBS) hospital in south Delhi

HOW CAN ONE SEEK THE THERAPY?

Only a doctor can recommend plasma therapy and it cannot be randomly sought by any Covid-19 patient. After recommendation, the concerned hospital has to inform ILBS for plasma, said the CM

DEATHS

NEWDELHI: The Delhi government has asked all hospitals and Covid-19 testing laboratories to start rapid antigen detection tests to scale up its ongoing process of identifying symptomatic patients and isolating them immediately. To further increase testing across the Capital, all district magistrates have also been asked to set up at least seven more antigen testing centres in each of the 11 districts, senior government officials said on Monday.

However, some labs seem to be reluctant as antigen test samples need to be processed within a stipulated time frame.